ADVANCED FOUNDATION ENGINEERING

Strap (Cantilever) Footing (Design Equations)

Example #1 (Design)
Example 9-3 pp. 487!489 in Textbook by J. Bowles. This example is partial in the
textbook and completed here
Design the strap footing shown below. Given:
fc' = 24 MPa, fy = 345 MPa, and soil qa = 120 kPa

DL = 320 kN
LL = 260 kN

DL = 500 kN
LL = 400 kN
S = 6.2 m

Column 1
0.4 m x 0.4m

Column 2
0.4 m x 0.4m
Strap Beam
h
B2 x B2

L 1 x B1

S1

B1

R1

R2

L1

B2

B2

Strap Beam

SOLUTION
STEP 1 DIMENSION FOOTINGS (Determine L1, B1, and B2)
Allowable loads: P1 = 320 + 260 = 580 kN
P2 = 500 + 400 = 900 kN
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P = 580 + 900 = 1480 kN

Advanced Foundation Engineering

Example on Design of Strap Footing
Dr. Adnan A. Basma

Ultimate loads : Pu1 = 1.4(320) + 1.7(260) = 890 kN

Pu2 = 1.4(500) + 1.7(400) = 1380 kN
Pu = 890 + 1380 = 2270 kN
Ultimate ratio ru = Pu/P = 2270/1480 = 1.53
Ultimate applied pressure qu = 120 " 1.53 = 183.6 kPa
#Mcol. 2 = 0:

R1 (6.2 ! e) + (890 x 6.2) = 0 ......................................... (1)

#MR1 = 0:

1380 (6.2 ! e) ! R2 (6.2 ! e) ! 890 e = 0 ...................... (2)

#F = 0:

2270 ! R1 ! R2 = 0 ...................................................... (3)

To solve these three equations assume e = 1.2 m (trial value)

a) By Eq. 1, R1 = 1103.6 kN
b) By Eq. 1, R2 = 1166.4 kN
c) R1 + R2 = 2270, therefore Eq. 3 is satisfied.

Calculation of dimensions L1, B1 and B2

Footing 1:

0 .4 &
)
l &
)
$ = 2.8 m
L1 = 2 x ' e * 1 $ = 2 x ''1.2 *
$
2%
2
(
(
%

B1 =

R1
1103.6
=
= 2.15 m
qu L 1
183.6 " 2.8

Area of footing 1, A1 = 2.8 x 2.15 = 6.01 m2

Footing 2:

B2 =

R2
=
qu

1166.4
= 2.52 m
183.6

Area of footing 2, A2 = (2.52)2 = 6.35 m2

Total Area of strap footing A = A1 + A2 = 6.01 + 6.35 = 12.36 m2

2 of 7

Advanced Foundation Engineering

Example on Design of Strap Footing
Dr. Adnan A. Basma

The following table shows alternative solutions for the various e-values.

R1, kN

R2, kN

0.8

1021.9

0.9

Footing 1

Footing 2

L1, m

B1, m

A1, m

1248.1

2.00

2.78

1041.1

1228.9

2.20

1.0

1061.2

1208.8

1.1

1082.0

1.2

Total A,
m2

B2, m

A2, m

5.57

2.61

6.80

12.36

2.58

5.67

2.59

6.69

12.36

2.40

2.41

5.78

2.57

6.58

12.36

1188.0

2.60

2.27

5.89

2.54

6.47

12.36

1103.6

1166.4

2.80

2.15

6.01

2.52

6.35

12.36

1.3

1126.1

1143.9

3.00

2.04

6.13

2.50

6.23

12.36

1.4

1149.6

1120.4

3.20

1.96

6.26

2.47

6.10

12.36

1.5

1174.0

1096.0

3.40

1.88

6.39

2.44

5.97

12.36

1.6

1199.6

1070.4

3.60

1.81

6.53

2.41

5.83

12.36

1.7

1226.2

1043.8

3.80

1.76

6.68

2.38

5.69

12.36

From this table the following can be observed:

1. All values of e will check Eq. 3, i.e. R1 + R2 = 2270
2. Regardless of the value of e, the total area A = 12.36 m2. This makes
R * R 2 2270
sense since the total area A = 1
+
+ 12.36 m2 and is
qu
183.6
independent of e.
3. For e = 0.9 m, B1 = B2. This would seem to be the best choice.

However, the value of e gives L1 < B1

4. For e= 1.0 m the resulting Footing 1 is square with L1 , B1 = 2.41 m.

This would seem to the most ideal solution

To continue with the solution of the textbook, we shall assume e = 1.2 m

and use L1 = 2.8 m, B1 = 2.15 m and B2 = 2.52 m.

STEP 2 DRAW SHEAR AND MOMENT DIAGRAMS (L - DIRECTION)

qu1, L = 183.6 x 2.15 = 394.1 kN/m
qu2, L = 183.6 x 2.52 = 462.9 kN/m
The shear and bending moment diagrams are shown on the next page.
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Advanced Foundation Engineering

Example on Design of Strap Footing
Dr. Adnan A. Basma

890 kN

1380 kN

6.2 m
0.4 m

0.4 m
Strap Beam
2.8 m

2.52 m

394.1 kN/m

462.9 kN/m
830.4

VStrap = 213

79

V(kN)

!
491
732

Top Steel
Footing 1
828

770

Top Steel, Strap Beam, Mu(strap)

Top Steel
Footing 2
270

146

M(kN.m)

7.9

Moment drawn on tension side

260
Bottom Steel
Footing 2

4 of 7

Advanced Foundation Engineering

Example on Design of Strap Footing
Dr. Adnan A. Basma

STEP 3 DEPTH OF CONCRETE, d'

2.15 m

2.52 m

Footing 2

Footing 1
Strap Beam

2.8 m

2.52 m

Estimate d' for footing 1 by 3-way punching shear under column 1

Using Structural Depth of Concrete table for punching shear failure, with
Pu1 = 890 kN, fc' = 24 MPa and p' = 2l + w = 2(0.4) + 0.4 = 1.2 m, the
value of d' , 0.35 m

Estimate d' for footing 2 by 4-way punching shear under column 2

Using Structural Depth of Concrete table for punching shear failure, with
Pu2 = 1380 kN, fc' = 24 MPa and p' = 2l + 2w = 2(0.4) + 2(0.4) = 1.6 m,
the value of d' , 0.42 m

Therefore use d' = 0.45 m for both footings

STEP 4 REINFORCEMENT IN L-DIRECTION

Calculation of moments per meter (values from moment diagram)
Footing 1 (top steel), Mu / m = 828/2.15 = 383.1 kN.m/m
Footing 2 (top steel), Mu / m = 270/2.15 = 125.6 kN.m/m
Footing 2 (bottom steel), Mu / m = 260/2.15 = 120.9 kN.m/m
Strap beam, Mu = 770 kN/m

5 of 7

Advanced Foundation Engineering

Example on Design of Strap Footing
Dr. Adnan A. Basma

STEP 5 REINFORCEMENT IN B-DIRECTION

For Footing 1
L1' =
Mu1 =

B1 ! b1
2 .1 ! 0 .3
=
+ 0.925 m
2
2
qu
-L 1 '.2 = 186.6 -0.925.2 + 78.5 kN.m/m
2
2

For Footing 2
L2' =

B 2 ! b 2 2.52 ! 0.3
=
+ 1.11 m
2
2

Mu2 =

qu
-L 2 '.2 = 186.6 -1.11.2 + 113.1 kN.m/m
2
2

STEP 6 DEPTH OF STRAP BEAM

Assume that the width of the trap = b = 0.3 m
VStrap = 213 kN (from shear diagram)
Shear strength of concrete /c = 8.87 f ' c = 8.87 24000 + 1374.1 kPa
The shear stress, /u =

Vstrap
b h

213
= 1374.1
0. 3 h

Solving for h, we get h = 0.52 m. Use h = 0.55 m

Reinforcements:
Using the footing depth in step 3 and the moments in steps 4 and 5, the
reinforcement of Footing 1 and 2 are obtained from Percent Steel Tables. In
a similar fashion, using h of the strap in step 6 and the moment in step 4, the
reinforcement of the strap is obtained from Percent Steel Tables. It should be
noted that the reinforcement in the footings is per meter while for the strap it is
total. For these reinforcements, the following table is prepared.
6 of 7

Advanced Foundation Engineering

Example on Design of Strap Footing
Dr. Adnan A. Basma

Reinforcement for the footings and strap: fc' = 24 MPa and fy = 345 MPa

B-Direction

L - Direction

Direction

*
**

Steel
Location

Mu,
kN.m/m

p, %
per m

Footing 1
(top)

383.1

Strap Beam
(top)

Pmin, %

Required, As,
cm2/m

Bar size @ spacing

in cm c-c

Provided
As, cm2/m

0.62

27.9

020 @ 12.5 cm

28.27

770

0.90

14.9*

2 020 @ 25 cm**

15.71

Footing 2
(top)

125.6

0.21

18.5

020 @ 20 cm

18.85

Footing 2
(bottom)

120.9

0.20

18.5

020 @ 20 cm

18.85

Footing 1
(bottom)

78.5

0.13

18.5

020 @ 20 cm

18.85

Footing 2
(bottom)

113.1

0.18

18.5

020 @ 20 cm

18.85

0.41

Since the strap beam used is 0.3 x 0.55 m, then As = 0.90 x 0.3 x 0.55
Total number of bars in strap bean

The problem is completed by drawing the final design sketch,

which shows all dimensions and reinforcements. This is left to the
student.

7 of 7

Advanced Foundation Engineering

Example on Design of Strap Footing
Dr. Adnan A. Basma